19 Apr 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Diksha, Guru & Disciple, Hansadutta das, Shiva, Srila Prabhupada His Movement & You
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, disciples of Srila Prabhupada, eleven representatives of acharya, hansadutta das, His Divine Grace, initiated disciples book, Letter to Hansadutta, Letter to Kirtananda, ritvik representatives of the acharya, VNN
Role Of The Rittvik Representatives Of The Acharya
By Sriman Hansadutta Prabhu — January 7, 1999 VNN2806
“You are a suitable person and you can give initiation to those that are ready for it. I have selected you among eleven men as ‘Rittvik representative of the Acharya, to give initiations, both first and second initiation, on my behalf.’ A newsletter is being sent to all temple presidents and GBC in this regard, listing the eleven representatives selected by His Divine Grace. Those who are initiated are the disciples of Srila Prabhupada, and anyone whom you deem fit and initiate in this way, you should send their names to be included in Srila Prabhupada’s ‘Initiated disciples’ book.”
EDITORIAL, Jan 7 (VNN) — The discussions that took place on 28th May 1977 between Srila Prabhupada and some GBC regarding initiations in the future were not known to me till years after his disappearance. Srila Prabhupada would say many things on many subjects, but unless a particular policy was written in letter form, or some other legal document such discussions on different matters were not accepted as final. Prabhupada often said you can say anything, but do not put it in writing; writing makes it legal.
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18 Apr 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Hayagriva das, The Hare Krishna Explosion
Tags: Haight Street, hayagriva das, Jagannatha Deities, Janaki, Jayananda, Mukunda, Rathayatra, San Francisco 1967, Swamiji, the hare krishna explosion
The Hare Krishna Explosion
by Hayagriva das
Part II: San Francisco, 1967
Chapter 11
San Francisco Rathayatra
As the passengers file through the gate into the terminal, we all wait anxiously, wondering how Swamiji will look. Somehow, we cannot imagine him gaunt, disabled or feeble. It is difficult for us to accept that his body, the medium for his teaching, could in any way break down, in defiance of the great spiritual personality within.
He is the last off the plane, accompanied by Kirtanananda. Despite the severity of his stroke, he looks virtually unchanged, only a little weary. The girls rush toward him and burst into tears. We throw flowers taken from Golden Gate Park: rhododendrons and hibiscus. He smiles appreciatively, but says nothing, and this is strange. Instead of giving his usual airport talk, he looks to us to show him the direction out. He chants Hare Krishna softly, his fingers incessantly caressing the japa beads in the beadbag, counting the rounds.
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15 Apr 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Jayananda Thakur, Vishoka das
Tags: A Day in the Life of Jayananda Thakur, devotee, great acharyas, Jayananda Thakur, ordinary souls, reincarnation, saints, Srila Prabhupada, Vishoka das
So we continue with the new upcoming book by Vishoka Prabhu; “A Day in the lLfe of Jayananda Thakur” We look foward to the release of this new book, and we thank him for sharing some of it with you.
Great Souls Sometimes Re-appear
By Sriman Vishoka Prabhu
Part one
Can devotees appear, disappear and then re-appear? Well, in a way, all souls are re-appearing again and again by the process of reincarnation. This report is very different from that. It’s about the re-appearance of great saints who once walked this earth, and who are not obliged or forced to reincarnate into a material body again, but sometimes re-appear in their devotee form. It’s about life after the disappearance of the soul from a material body, and the difference between great acharyas and ordinary souls in this regard. It is about how and why great acharyas appear, and after disappearance, they sometimes they give special re-appearances, and are always giving mercy to the conditioned souls.
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14 Apr 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Devotee's, Diksha, Disciplic succession, Gauridas Pandit das, Guru & Disciple, Siksa
Tags: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, Gauridasa Pandita, GBC, guru, Initiation, Iskcon, officiating acharyas, On My Behalf, ritvik, ritvik-acharya, Sri Vrindavan Dhama, Srila Prabhupada's Initiation System, Temple Property Trust
“So I cannot speak. I am feeling weak. I was to go to other places like Chandigarh, but I canceled the program because the condition of my health is very deteriorating. So I preferred to come to Vrindavan. If death takes place, let it take here. So there is nothing new to be said. Whatever I have to speak, I have spoken in my books. Now you try to understand it and continue your endeavor. Whether I am present or not present, it doesn’t matter. As Krsna is living eternally, similarly, the living being also lives eternally.
On My Behalf
Srila Prabhupada’s Initiation System
by Sriman Gauridasa Pandita Prabhu
Srila Prabhupada arrived in Sri Vrindavan Dhama on May 17th 1977 to prepare to ‘leave his body.’ He made all of the arrangements for the future of his movement. He formed his Will, the Temple Property Trusts, he gave instructions for the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust and the GBC and he established his initiation system for the future of ISKCON.
Due to some unseen good fortune I got the opportunity to serve Srila Prabhupada, at that time. Actually, I began to personally serve him in Bombay as one of his guards and then went with him to Hrsikesh to ‘regain his failing health’ on the advice of one of the life members, Mahadevia Kartikeya.
Things were like heaven in Hrsikesh serving Srila Prabhupada.
We were staying in a two story house right on the bank of the Holy Ganges River. We had the best Jalebi maker (Vedic sweets) in the world, according to Srila Prabhupada, right across the street. We used to have fruit, yogurt and hot Jalebis for breakfast. Srila Prabhupada said that hot Jalebis could cure the common cold.
I used to enjoy taking Japa Walks in the Himalayan Mountains. The forests are lush, filled with singing birds, and wandering devotees. Some Shivite’s live in the cave’s and only leave to bath in the Ganga. They eat only what is offered to them.
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08 Apr 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Devotee's, Diksha, Locanananda das, Srila Prabhupada
Tags: diksa, initations, Iskcon, Locanananda das, Lord Caitanya's Sankirtan Movement, Officiating Acarya. ritvik, Srila Prabhupada, The Hare Krishna Movement, VNN
The War is Over
Editorial (VNN) – by Locanananda Das
There is a popular ideology that claims that Srila Prabhupad should still be considered the diksa guru in ISKCON. It is commendable that devotees who espouse this ideology want to see Krishna’s pure devotee unlimitedly and perpetually glorified. That goal can be accomplished by following the system of “officiating acharyas” that he factually authorized. An “officiating acharya” simply teaches by example how to follow in the footsteps of the great preceptor and founder acharya of ISKCON and then engages everyone in the service of expanding the sankirtan movement.
When Srila Prabhupad was asked how initiations would be performed after he was no longer physically present, his response was clear and powerful. He had been contemplating this question for ten years, and his main concern was to guarantee the continuity and future growth of his movement. His reply was “I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acharya.” This was the term he wanted to introduce to describe the role of his disciples who would initiate new devotees as members of ISKCON after he had concluded his manifest pastimes.
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07 Apr 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Devotee's, Rochan das, Srila Prabhupada
Tags: Acarya, bonafied representative, Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya, disciplic succession, Rochan das, Sampradaya Acarya, Sampradaya sun, Srila Prabhupada, vaisnava community
Sampradaya Acarya
By Sriman Rochan Prabhu 2003
The Sampradaya Acaryas who form the foundation of our parampara teach that the process of becoming Krsna conscious is not sentimental, but is instead an exact science for achieving the perfection of self-realization. As such, all aspects of this divine process are meticulously explained, clearly defined, and systematically presented. Adjustments needed to comply with time, place and circumstance can only be implemented by a maha-bhagavata Acarya ambassador of the past parampara Acaryas.
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06 Apr 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Book Changes, Devotee's, Rupanuga das
Tags: Bhagavad-gita As It Is, book changes, grammatical and spelling errors only, interpolation, Rupanuga das, scientific evaluation, Srila Prabhupada's books, Teachings of Lord Caitanya
A Scientific Method for Evaluating Editorial Changes to Srila Prabhupada’s Books
By: Sriman Rupanuga Prabhu
“Our editing is to correct grammatical and spelling errors only, without interpolation of style or philosophy.” (Letter to Rupanuga, 2/17/70)
Previous evaluations of the editorial changes focused on descriptions of the changes and references to pre-publication drafts rather than a factual quantification and comparative philosophical analysis. This article presents a scientific evaluation of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is and the Teachings of Lord Caitanya. The results demonstrate if the revised editions followed Srila Prabhupada’s editorial policy and if they are genuine, authentic revisions that preserve the original content, philosophy and style.
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06 Apr 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Jayananda Thakur
Tags: A Day in the Life of Jayananda Thakur, Jayananda das, Jayananda Thakur, Lady Subhadra, Rathayathra cart, Rathayathra Festival, Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple, Valentia, Vishoka das
A Day in the Life of Jayananda Thakur
Chapter One
By Sriman Vishoka Prabhu
As promised, we are posting some of the new book on Jayananda Thakur, entitled “A Day in the Life of Jayananda Thakur”, which has yet to be published, and is beautifully written by Vishoka Prabhu. He has kindly offered to let us post some of the new book before it arrives at the printers, and hopefully it will be nearing completion soon. The following is the first part of Chapter One. We will include the rest of the chapter in a later post, so stay tuned for more Jayananda Nectar.
Chapter One
4:00 am, summer of 1975, Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple, Valentia Street, San Francisco.
Jayananda’s dream-
Amidst a kaleidoscope of swirling colors and loud kirtan, Lord Jagannatha’s beautiful face smiles benevolently at His many devotees … as He sits upon His royal throne, situated within the majestic and colorful decor of His opulent carriage. Srila Prabhupada rides upon Lady Subhadra’s cart, while Jayananda dances jubilantly within the grand procession of enthusiastically chanting and dancing devotees.
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03 Apr 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Hayagriva das, The Hare Krishna Explosion
Tags: Avalon Ballroom, chant, Fillmore, Golden Gate Park, hayagriva das, hippies, kirtan, Morning Star Ranch, Psychedelic Shop, Sumer of Love, Swamiji
The Hare Krishna Explosion
by Hayagriva das
Part II: San Francisco, 1967
Chapter 10
Soul Struck
During April and May, tourism and hippy fantasy soar to rare heights in the Haight-Ashbury. Like a Mardi Gras carnival, the celebration is cresting, rushing toward some indefinite Ash Wednesday.
Kirtans are wild and uninhibited. We often chant at the Fillmore and Avalon ballrooms, during intermissions between rock groups. A “Summer of Love” festival is organized, and we chant at be-in’s in Golden Gate Park, at the YMCA and Psychedelic Shop, and with hippy sun worshipers at Morning Star Ranch.
The spring passes so quickly, perhaps because its days are filled with long hours of sunshine and festivity. Youths from all sections of the nation roam and lounge throughout the park, barefoot and dungareed, leisurely creating what they hope is a new community of love and peace, a world where no one is over thirty, where there is no violence, ignorance or death. And they chant Hare Krishna because they see ISKCON as an exotic flower in the hippy bouquet, something even further removed from twentieth century America, from the political activists and their endless strife. Generally, activists and Negroes shun us, considering us on far-out trips, dabbling in the cultures of undeveloped nations.
But what do they know of Krishna? Or of Swamiji? What do any of us really know?
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02 Apr 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Bhakti Caru Swami, Devotee's, Remembering Srila Prabhupada
Tags: Bhakti Caru Swami, devotees, disappearance day offering, disappearance pastimes, final instructions, His Divine Grace, just maintain what I have given you
Disappearance Day offering to Srila Prabhupada
June 16, 2010
By Bhakti Caru Swami
Why do we hesitate to tell a new comer who is searching for a guru that Srila Prabhupada, the best guru the world has ever seen, is still here, and one can surrender unto him and go back to Godhead very easily? When we have such a great good fortune, why do we not take full advantage of it?
…Prabhupada did not say anything and then in a very soft voice he told me, “Didn’t I teach you that the spirit soul is eternal and he never dies?”
That one statement gave me a profound realization: how could the person who taught me that the spirit soul never dies ever die himself? He will always be with us, although some day he may disappear from our mundane vision.
But today, when I look back, I can see that soon after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance we took it for granted that Srila Prabhupada is not here any more – like any other mortal, as he left his body, he is no more. I very strongly feel that this is the greatest mistake we have made. And as a result, ISKCON today is in such a critical condition. Now that we assembled here to celebrate Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance pastime, once and for all let us recognize that Srila Prabhupada has not gone away.
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01 Apr 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Book Changes, Punya das
Tags: Bhumi, book changes, global movement, guru, Gurudas, Krishna devotee, Laxman, Punya das, pure devotee, Radha Krishna, sound incarnation, Vayu, Visvasvan
Glorification of the Guru Who Lives in His Books
Mar 29, 2011 — BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, USA (SUN)
By Punya das
Guru das watched Prabhupada laughing while reading his Krsna book.
Guru Das: “Prabhupada, you’re laughing at your own books.”
Prabhupada: “I did not write these books, Krsna wrote them!”
Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet Your Divine Grace. My words cannot begin to show my gratitude for all the things you gave this world. Anyone is fortunate enough to be able to have the association of Krishna’s pure devotee, THE guru who lives in His books. Inspired by your association, your global movement continues to give birth daily to billions of sound incarnations of Radha-Krishna, 24/7/365. They are dancing round the universe and purifying it. You said when we chant Hare Krsna, the Divine Couple personally appear. It does not get any better than that, to be in the presence of Krsna, being purified by His Personal Association.
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01 Apr 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Devotee Books, Jayananda Thakur
Tags: Jayananda, Krishna, San Francisco temple, sankirtan festivals, spiritual relationship, Srila Prabhupada, The Beautiful Life of Jayananda Thakur, tribute, Vishoka das
The following is the introduction to the new book, soon to be released, on Jayananda Thakur, beautifully written by Sriman Vishoka Prabhu. Many of you remember Vishoka’s first book; “The Beautiful Life of Jayananda Thakur”, which was Vishoka’s tribute to Jayananda and portrays the beauty of something rarely seen-a genuinely happy man, experiencing a perfect life and death.
We will continue to post the chapters as they are released, so stay tuned.
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26 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Devotee's, Jaganatha das, The Hare Krishna Movement
Tags: chanters, Christmas, Hare Krishna Devotees, Iskcon, Jagannatha das, shaved heads, Srila Prabhupada's books
Minor History of ISKCON
BY: JAGANNATHA DASA
Mar 25, 2011 — USA (SUN) —
Part 2 – First Times
The first time that I saw the Hare Krishna devotees was in 1969. My father took me to his job in Manhattan. He was employed as a printer for a public relations company on Lexington Avenue and 59th Street. I spent the day collating stacks of papers. I was 14 years old at the time.
My father took me out to eat during his lunch break. We were walking down a typical crowded city street when I was stopped in my tracks.
A group of about a dozen young men and women wearing pink, white, orange and different colored robes were dancing and singing. They were lined up in a row along the curb, men on one end and ladies on the other end, swaying side to side in rhythm with the music. The men all had shaved heads. They were playing drums and cymbals.
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25 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Hayagriva das, The Hare Krishna Explosion
Tags: Balarama, ephemeral glitter of psychedelia, Flowers for Lord Jagannatha, Golden Gate Park, Haight, hayagriva das, hippies, India's Brijbasi Company, Nalakurvara and Manigriva, psychedelic shops, Shyamasundar das, Subhadra, Swamiji, the hare krishna explosion, The Oracle, Vietnam War
The Hare Krishna Explosion
by Hayagriva das
Part II: San Francisco, 1967
Chapter 8
Flowers for Lord Jagannatha
The days of February are beautiful with perfect temperatures in the seventies, fog rolling off early, skies very blue and clear, sun falling bright and sharp on the lush foliage of Golden Gate Park. The park encloses the largest variety of plant and tree life to be found in any one spot on earth. We are at a loss to identify plants for Swamiji.
“When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu passed through the forests, all the plants, trees and creepers were delighted to see Him and rejoiced in His presence. Plant life is like that in the spiritual sky—fully conscious.”
“And these trees, Swamiji? How conscious are they?”
“Oh, spirit soul is there, but consciousness has been arrested temporarily. Perception is more limited.”
Swamiji strolls by men playing checkers, passes beneath the tall oaks, past the shuffleboard court, then stops and turns to speak.
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23 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Book Changes, Devotee's, Locanananda das
Tags: bhagavad-gita, Gupta das, hansadutta das, Hare Krishna, Krsna Book, Locnananda das, Srila Prabhupada's original books, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, true potency of the Hare Krishna Movement
Why Not Just Print Prabhupada’s Original Books
By Sriman Locanananda Prabhu
Srila Prabhupada said that our purpose was unity, and even though the legal documents seem to create a workable arrangement by which both editions of his books can be made available, the true potency of the Hare Krishna movement will be manifested when the deviation is removed and we are all distributing the same Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the same Krishna Book and the same Teachings of Lord Caitanya, just as we all chant the same Mahamantra, offer obeisances to the same spiritual master and worship the same Supreme Personality of Godhead
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15 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Book Changes, Devotee's, Gauridas Pandit das
Tags: book changes, disciple, ecstasu of the spiritual master, edit, Gauridas Pandit dasa, Sri Isopanissad, Srila Prabhupada, translate, Vrindavan
“Do Not Change My Words” — Prabhupada
Testimonials — By Gauridas Pandit dasa on January 30, 1998 at 8:37 am
Srila Prabhupada used to like to sit in his garden in Vrindavan especially in the mornings. He liked to hear his books read to him daily. One time Yasodanandan Prabhu was reading Sri Isopanisad when Srila Prabhupada stopped him and asked him to reread the last paragraph. After hearing it again Srila Prabhupada said, “Those are not my words! They are changing my words! Is my English not good enough?” Srila Prabhupada became very angry and continued, “This is the worst thing a disciple can do! Do not become like a leap frog and try to jump over the spiritual master thinking you know better than him. Tell them immediately [the editors] do not change my words!”
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14 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Arsha Prayoga, Bhagavad-gita, Book Changes, Locanananda das
Tags: 1972 MacMillian, 1972 printing, Arsha Prayoga, BBT, bhagavad-gita, book changes, Hare Krishna, Krsna consciousness movement, Locanananda das, Maha Mantra, original edition, revised and enlarged edition, Srila Prabhupada
EDITORIAL
BY LOCANANANDA DAS – 11-01-04
While planning to print the unabridged version of the Bhagavad-gita, Srila Prabhupada often referred to it as the revised and enlarged edition. When the BBT published its unauthorized adulterated Gita years later, they would henceforward refer to the 1972 printing as the original edition while calling theirs the revised and enlarged edition. This appears to be a subtle act of deception meant to validate the irreverent practice of changing Srila Prabhupada’s Books.
The remainder of this article will focus mainly on the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, which contains the essence of Vaishnava philosophy. Srila Prabhupada said that the Krishna consciousness movement is genuine, historically authorized, natural and transcendental due to its being based on the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. It was his conviction that the entire human society could embrace one God, Krishna, and live harmoniously by practicing one religion, devotional service to God, by chanting one mantra, the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, and by following one scripture, the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Because the Bhagavad-gita is so vitally important to the spreading of Krishna consciousness, the adverse effect of changing its original wording without the approval of the Acharya can hardly be estimated.
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13 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Hayagriva das, The Hare Krishna Explosion
Tags: Allen Ginsberg, bhagavad-gita, bohemians, Digger's, gathering of the tribes, Golden Gate Park, Grateful Dead, Haight Ashbury, Hayagriva, Hell's Angels, hippies, Janis Joplin, Kirtanananda, LSD, Mantra Rock, matchless gifts, Mukunda, psychedelic age, San Francisco 1967, Srila Prabhuapada, Swamiji
The Hare Krishna Explosion
by Hayagriva das
Part II: San Francisco, 1967
Chapter 7
Swami in Hippyland
January 17, 1967. When Swamiji descends from the plane and enters the San Francisco airport, he is greeted by a group of about fifty young people. As he is questioned by the press, he extends his usual transcendental invitations.
“We welcome everyone, in any condition of life, to come to our temple and hear the message of Krishna consciousness,” he says.
“Does that include Haight-Ashbury hippies and bohemians?” a reporter asks.
“Everyone, including you or anyone else,” Swamiji says. “Whatever you are—what you call an acid-head, or hippy, or whatever—what you are doesn’t matter. Once you are accepted for training, you will change.”
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12 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Devotee's, Sriman George Harrison
Tags: Bala Gopal, Bhaktivedanta Manor, England 1993, Gurudas, Lokadrsti, Malati, Mukunda, Shyamasundar, Sri Gandhari, Sriman George Harrison
Remembering George Harrison
By Lokadrsti devi dasi
Haribol!
I’ll try to put it down in print.
It was at Bhakitivedanta Manor in England 1993. The first Prabhupada reunion they had. So it was the first time the original devotees who went to England met up for the first time for 10 yrs. or more. Malati, Shyamasundar, Guru das, Mukunda Maharaja and alot of old Prabhupada disciples who had alot of association with Srila Prabhupada in England.
We had set up a large stage outside so everyone sat on the grass in the cow field. My service was decorating the stage to give it a more transcendental appearance. So I was a bit tired and sat at the back of all the devotees with my friend Bala Gopal to the left of me and my daughter, Sri Gandhari to the right.
Everyone was dressed in devotee garb so I noticed this person dressed in blue jeans and blue jean jacket and looked him straight in the eye. He seemed a little scared so I thought he was a new guest. Timidly, he sat right next to Sri Gandhari. Then my friend whispers “there’s George” and a fool as I am, says out loud ” George who?”
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11 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Book Distribution, Devotee's, Vaisesika das
Tags: BBT, Bhagavad Gita, Book Distribution, Caitanya Caritamrta, devotees, Goethe, Hari Nama Sankirtan, Helen Keller, Vaisesika Dasa
Be Bold
By: Vaisesika Dasa
Dear Devotees,
Please accept my humble pranams at your feet. All glories to the founder/Acarya of ISKCON and his unparalleled books.
Srila Prabhupada made our lives exciting. He pushed us and he was definitely not accustomed to thinking small. In thinking of what my life was like while Srila Prabhupada walked the planet, I often recall a famous quotation from Helen Keller: “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”
Life with Srila Prabhupada was and still is a daring adventure.
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